This article is part of our Yahoo DFS Hockey series.
Did you make any New Year's resolutions? Was one of them to play more daily fantasy hockey? If so, you're in luck. There are seven NHL games Thursday evening, which doesn't include a random 2:00 PM ET start, and here are the players I think you should target, and avoid, for your lineup.
GOALIE
Carey Price, MON vs. VAN ($32): Price is expected back after missing three games with injury. He hasn't had the best season, but this is a favorable matchup. The Canucks have only managed 28.3 shots on net per game, and they are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back. That should benefit Price in his return.
GOALIE TO AVOID
Jonathan Quick, LOS vs. TAM ($30): Quick is a big name in net, and the Kings are at home, but don't bet on the American goalie in this matchup. The Lightning have scored a whopping 4.13 goals per game, highest in the NHL. On the other hand, the Kings are last in goals per game. It's unlikely Quick will get the goal support he's going to need.
CENTER
Sebastian Aho, CAR at PHI ($25): Aho may toil in semi-obscurity for the Hurricanes, but he's simply one of the best offensive players in the league at this point. He's got 15 goals and 39 points through 38 games, including 10 on the power play. The Flyers have a 3.59 GAA, third highest in the NHL, and Carter Hart has been hit or miss so far to the tune of a .899 save percentage.
CENTER TO AVOID
Anze Kopitar, LOS vs. TAM ($18): Kopitar is doing his best, but he doesn't have a lot of talent around him, and he has unsurprisingly been able to replicate his 17.5 shooting percentage from last season when he scored 35 goals. Now he's taking on a Lightning team led by Andrei Vasilevskiy in net, who has a 2.58 GAA and .923 save percentage. Good luck to Kopitar, who only has two goals in his last 18 games.
WING
Brendan Gallagher, MON vs. VAN ($20): If you want to talk guys who put a ton of shots on net, Gallagher has racked up a whopping 141 pucks on goal through 40 games. That's led to 15 goals, even though he's been a bit snake bit on the power play. The Canucks are on the road for the second game of a back-to-back. They just traded backup goalie Anders Nilsson, which complicates things. Either Jacob Markstrom will have to play on back-to-back nights, or Mike McKenna (.897 save percentage) will jump right into net.
Anders Lee, NYI vs. CHI ($19): Lee hasn't matched the lofty shooting percentages he's put up the last two seasons, but he's still got 14 goals thanks to the fact he's put 100 shots on net through 38 games. Shots, and goals, have been easy to come by against the Blackhawks. Chicago has a 3.62 GAA, second highest in the league, and it has allowed 34.2 shots on net to boot.
WINGS TO AVOID
Patrick Kane, CHI at NYI ($28): This is a big swing, but here me out. Kane is great, but he's also very pricey. There are a few favorable matchups out there, so you aren't starved for choice. Meanwhile, the Islanders have a 2.61 GAA, second lowest in the NHL. Both Thomas Greiss and Robin Lehner have played great. Kane rarely puts up a dud, but I just don't feel like the value is there Thursday.
Jonathan Huberdeau, FLA at BUF ($22): Huberdeau's shooting a lot less this year, which is why he only has 10 goals through 38 games. Carter Hutton has been a strong goalie at home, as he has a 2.44 GAA and .925 save percentage in Buffalo. The Sabres also have the fifth-ranked penalty kill, and 18 of Huberdeau's 44 points have come with the extra man.
DEFENSE
Jeff Petry, MON vs. VAN ($19): Petry had a December to remember, as he had 12 points and 44 shots on net in 15 games last month. Additionally, after breaking out with 23 power-play points last season, he has eight this year while averaging 3:17 per game with the extra man. The Canucks have a 3.26 GAA on the road, and as I noted earlier their situation in net is up in the air for this second leg of a back-to-back. No matter how it shakes out, it bodes well for Petry.
Rasmus Dahlin, BUF vs. FLA ($13): The Sabres have a lot of confidence in the first-overall pick, as he's averaged 20:34 in ice time, including 2:41 on the power play. That's helped the Swede tally 20 points, including eight with the extra man. Florida has not been good away from home, as it has a 3.75 GAA in road games, and Roberto Luongo is only sporting a .897 save percentage.
DEFENSE TO AVOID
Mark Giordano, CGY at BOS ($25): Giordano is having a great year, but he will also be on the road for the second game of a back-to-back for this one. To make matters worse, the Bruins have a 2.44 GAA at home. The numbers simply aren't in Giordano's favor, especially at this price.
Torey Krug, BOS vs. CGY ($20): Let's flip this matchup around for my second recommendation in this category. Yes, the Flames are on the road for the second night of a back-to-back, but it's looking like David Rittich will be starting this one. That's the same Rittich who has a 2.39 GAA and .920 save percentage. Also, interestingly enough, the Flames have the lowest GAA in the league in road games.
